Tony Abbott plays down 'overexcited chatter' about campaign against Malcolm Turnbull over disloyalty

Tony Abbott has hosed down suggestions of a campaign against Malcolm Turnbull.

AAP: Alan Porritt

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has hosed down speculation of a coordinated campaign against Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull over alleged disloyalty and says he expects his ministers to have ambition.

But the questions at his first Paris press conference centred on conservative commentators Alan Jones and Andrew Bolt and the suggestion Mr Turnbull is being disloyal to the Prime Minister.

"I think that there has been a bit of overexcited chatter," Mr Abbott said.

"Lots of people in public life are the subject, from time to time, of criticism. It goes with the territory. The point I want to make is that I am very pleased to have Malcolm as a senior member of my government.

Last night on the ABC's 7.30 program, Mr Turnbull rejected suggestions he might be after the Liberal leadership and said he thought there could be a campaign against him.

"Um …. it certainly - you could form that view, you could form that view," he said.

But he said he was "absolutely certain" the Prime Minister's office was not involved.

"That really would be mad," he said.

Mr Turnbull led the Coalition from September 2008 to December 2009, when Mr Abbott defeated him in a spill motion by one vote.

Liberal MP Craig Laundy, who says he is a close friend of both Mr Abbott and Mr Turnbull, said the Communications Minister is entitled to speak out against his critics.

"What I think Mr Turnbull is doing is defending himself," he said.

"I would like to think that, if I'm placed in the position where stories are circulating about me that are not true – be it me, be it anyone in this place – I would hope that the Australian public would understand that we should have the right to defend ourself [sic]."

Bolt on NewsRadio

"Malcolm's been the leader, that has ended and he's very happy being Communications Minister," Mr Pyne said.

Both Mr Pyne and Mr Turnbull insist the Coalition is united.

Speaking on ABC NewsRadio this morning, Bolt hit back at suggestions he is part of a concerted campaign to destabilise Mr Turnbull, saying he is "in touch with people all over the spectrum".

"What would you expect from a commentator?" Bolt said.

"But no-one, no-one has egged me on. I mean this is just a bizarre conspiracy theory. Really, Malcolm - it's just me.

"I did this entirely off my own bat. Who, knowing me, would doubt that I would? It's just ridiculous - there's this bizarre idea that I'm part of a grand conspiracy. People looking under rocks for these enemies of Turnbull. Again, it's just me, Malcolm."